If the city doesn't build a "connector road" to link Aurora Road east of SOM Center Road to Route 422, it may have to widen SOM.

Or, to improve SOM traffic flow, the city might have to create a system of synchronized traffic signals along SOM and throughout Solon.

The signals would have cameras that would allow a City Hall worker to monitor traffic and adjust signal timing during peak hours. They would not be used to catch speeders or red-light runners.

Those options were discussed June 30 during a City Council work session on a proposed master traffic plan for Solon.

The master plan was prepared by Wells + Associates, a McLean, Va. traffic engineering firm. The city paid Wells $59,200 for the study.

The connector road concept was introduced by the Coral Co. in 2008 as part of Coral's plan to build a 100-acre mixed-use development between Bainbridge and Solon roads, just east of SOM.

The connector road would have run roughly parallel to SOM, from Aurora across from Solar Shopping Center to the Route 422 eastbound exit ramp.

Coral eventually withdrew its mixed-use development plan and the connector road due to the economy.

Wells said the city should still build the connector road because it would lighten traffic on an increasingly congested SOM.

It would also allow traffic to exit 422 eastbound at SOM faster. The city would also widen the 422 eastbound exit ramp at SOM, Wells said.

Sharondale issue

Michael Workosky, principal associate with Wells, said the city should build the connector road in the same general area that Coral proposed it.

Workosky said if the road were shifted too far to the east, it wouldn't link traffic to 422. The link would be one of its main attractions.

However, under Coral's plan, the connector road would have gone through the Sharondale subdivision. Coral was going to buy every home in Sharondale and raze the subdivision to make room for its development.

Councilwoman Susan Drucker questioned whether the city, on its own, could buy the several residential lots needed for the connector road.

She added that residents left behind might not be happy to find a new road suddenly in their back yards.

Workosky said another option is widening SOM from four to six lanes between 422-Bainbridge Road.

"It would probably cost as much for that as it would the connector road," Workosky said.

The widening would stop at the railroad bridge because it would be impractical or impossible to widen SOM there, then pick up again south of the bridge.

Five lanes?

Wells has recommended that SOM southbound at Aurora be widened from three lanes (including two left-turn-only lanes) to five lanes (two left-turn lanes, two through lanes and one right-turn-only lane).

Workosky acknowledged that widening SOM would be difficult because the city would have to find room for new sidewalks, and it would be hard to relocate utilities like water lines and telephone poles.

Finally, pedestrians would be further discouraged from crossing the street if SOM were six lanes.

Workosky said widening SOM isn't impossible "but there's only so much widening you can do and widening that makes sense."

Councilman Ed Kraus asked which option -- the connector road or the SOM widening --would be more likely to receive state and federal dollars.

The answer is the SOM widening, city Engineer John Busch said. He said little if any state or federal money would be available for the connector road.

Kraus said he would like a cost estimate for the SOM widening. He said the project might be necessary because Giant Eagle may soon double the size of its Solar Shopping Center store and that would attract more shoppers to Solon.

Synchronized lights

The third option -- a synchronized system of traffic lights with cameras and remote control at City Hall -- would also improve SOM traffic, Workosky said.

The city has applied for federal funds to replace or upgrade all 42 traffic lights in Solon and add three new lights.

Councilman Ed Suit said the new system would include traffic-monitoring cameras.

The synchronized system would cost about $7.4 million. A federal grant would cover 80 percent of the costs. That leaves the city to pay $1.48 million plus about $250,000 in design fees.

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